Asklemmy

This is the best measure (preventative). Carb heavy lunches will wreck you. Save the carbs for after work, fall asleep on the couch watching TV, then wake up with a sore back.

Jep, low carb, no added sugars.

Select food that keeps the blood sugar from going nuts.

Good advice. Still remember the food coma I had when I had a heavy casserole for lunch, with lots and lots of cheese. Almost fell asleep at my desk, even though I had coffee afterwards. There’s a right time and place for lots of cheese, but it isn’t the office.

And then there's the very obvious middle ground - just. don't. eat. so. much.

Most of my adult life (18-40) was working in some sort of labor intense industry. There's an age range where your body needs that energy because it's continuing to grow and get used to your work life. But then you get older, your body ages, chemicals change, muscles change, your job description changes. And a lot of people, well into their twenties and thirties, continue to eat like they're still in their teens. That's how you get fat.

And being tired after you eat is your body telling you that something is no longer the same. Why are you tired? Because you fekkin ate too much and your body can't metabolize that food as quickly as it used to - ya big dummy.

I'm now in my mid-40s, I work from home and sit at a desk. I eat smaller portions throughout the day. I have one cup of coffee in the AM. I usually get about three hours of walking in a week and a solid eight hours of sleep with no alarm. I'm nearly full of energy as soon as I get out of bed and I'm rarely tired during the day (unless it's a stressful day).

So, if you find yourself getting sleepy after lunch, try eating half of it a half hour earlier than you would normally eat. Then wait an hour. If you're still hungry, eat half of the remaining half. Wait a half hour and eat the rest if you're still hungry. And drink a lot of water. It's helps move things around, fills you up. and keeps you hydrated. Dehydration can make you sleepy too.

Heavy workload is less of a predictor of heart attacks than the level of autonomy and flexibility one has at work.

Working hard isn’t that bad for you. Being demeaned is the silent killer.

I'm pretty sure there are a lot of us in neither camp where we just don't have an after lunch slump. I only get sleepy after eating if I have an absolute buttload of food, which I tend not to do on my lunch break at work.

Do I wait until my coworkers try to talk to me to do the screams?

Caffeine just before imo (and after if you must). It takes like 15-45 mins to kick in

Same here when I can get it. Otherwise just coffee and movement. Getting my brain into another task helps too.

So you are re-tired? 🤣

Sounds interesting. Do you have a source for the mentioned research?

Similar age, noticing the same. It never used to matter. Although I also used to have jobs where I was on my feet all day so I’m not sure what is aging and what is living a sedentary life. I usually have a handful of almonds in the afternoon and that’s fine. Also avoiding afternoon coffee seems to help.

But I’ve started walking for a half hour before work and after a couple weeks, I feel like I have more energy in general.

When I worked in an office I’d head out to my car and lay the seat back for 15 minutes of shuteye.

It's also about what one eats. I find fatty food to be the worst. It takes so much energy to digest I literally fall asleep at the table.

Yeah I think the problem is overindulgence, not necessarily what you're eating or that you'd need special tricks. Just ease back a bit. You don't need to stuff yourself over lunch unless you live in a society where lunch is your largest meal of the day and you get a siesta afterwards.